Message from the director

It is thanks to the IOC, the Olympic Museum and 50 or so federations and associations related to sport that Lausanne enjoys the status of "Olympic Capital". The city, its region and the canton of Vaud have a network of expertise which is the only one of its kind in the world. Tertiary education institutions, permanent centres of research and training, the AISTS, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Court of Arbitration for Sport all help to make Lausanne a beacon of excellence when it comes to sport.

The city, its region and the canton of Vaud have a network of expertise which is the only one of its kind in the world

Lausanne also promotes the practice of sport with public subsidies for clubs, most notably for the benefit of youngsters. 30,000 permit-holders, nearly 300 clubs, 75 sports practised - this is also what Lausanne is about.

Hosting major sporting events helps to create a unique atmosphere in our town, especially in the run-up to the Lausanne 20-km race, Athletissima and the Marathon, for example. We seek to stage an event of international resonance every year. Gymnaestrada and the final of the Archery World Cup are just two recent examples.

Last but not least, the infrastructures. They are showing their age today. The Metamorphosis project has been launched for the specific purpose of endowing our city and our region with a new football stadium, a sports centre in Malley with an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a new ice rink, as well as the complete refurbishment of the Pierre-de-Coubertin Stadium for athletics.

Marc Vuilleumier, Director of sport, integration and protection of the population